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Antonovka apple

Antonovka

Antonovka is a popular cooking or dual-purpose apple, known for its excellent cold-hardiness.

Antonovka is unusual in that it is perhaps better considered as a population of related varieties rather than a single cultivar.  Unlike most apple varieties it also grows reasonably true from seed so can be propagated without grafting. As a result there is quite a range of variation in its characteristics. In most areas Antonovka is picked in early mid-season, but some forms in some northern areas are picked much later and can be kept into winter.

Antonovka apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Antonovka
  • Antonovka

USDA identification images for Antonovka

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Offspring of this variety


    Sports of this variety

    Sports are natural genetic mutations of the original variety.


    Visitor reviews

    • 14 Nov 2013  -, Finland
      Lovely to eat, slightly spicy. Flesh firm, very fine-grained, not at all coarse.
    • 05 Jan 2012  MINNESOTA, United States
      I'm reading a book by the Russian writer Ivan Bunin. There is a quote in the book "Good Antonovka's bring good years" then "If there's a healthy crop of Antonovka's the wheat will be healthy and the coming harvest will be plentiful."
    • 03 Jun 2011  Czech Republic
      My uncle has a variety of Antonovka which has very large yellow apples.
    • 25 Dec 2010  BRUSSELS, Belgium
      I would like to buy an apple tree Antonovka for my garden. As I live in Europe, it would be easier for me to buy it from your British nurseries.
    • 01 Jan 2010  United Kingdom
      Starter post

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    Canada

    • David in New-Richmond, QUEBEC\CANADA

    Poland

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2020 season

    • 25th April  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2018 season

    • 16th April  2018  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2014 season

    • June  2014  - tree owned by David in New-Richmond, Canada

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Harvest records for this variety

    2020 season

    • 4th week November  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2014 season

    • 2nd week October  2014  - tree owned by David in New-Richmond, Canada

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Originates from: Kursk, Russia
    • Introduced: 1820s
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1948-666
    • Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.

    Identification

    • Country of origin: Russia
    • Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
    • Fruit colour: Green - light
    • Flower colour: Pink - light
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking season: Early
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
    • Flavour quality: Good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sharper
    • Cropping: Good
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Culinary
    • Food uses: Dual purpose
    • Picking period: late August
    • Picking period: early September
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
    • Rootstock size class: Standard
    • Rootstock % of standard: 100%

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Vigorous
    • Precocity: Slow to start bearing
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Growth habit: Spreading / Flat-topped
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Organic culture: Suitable
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Climate

    • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 3 (-40C)
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
    • Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Good
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
    • Fire blight: Some resistance
    • Burr knots: Few
    • Collar rot: Some resistance
    • Crown rot: Some resistance

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Antonovka apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Antonovka:

    United States


    Canada




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